SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:11
Os ruego que les devolváis hoy sus tierras, sus vińas, sus olivares, y sus casas, y hasta la centésima parte del dinero y del grano, del vino y del aceite que demandáis de ellos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 5:11
Verse 11. Also the hundredth part of the money] Houbigant contends, 1. That the word tam meath, which we and the Vulgate translate one hundredth part, never means so anywhere; and 2. That it would have answered no end to have remitted to people so distressed merely the one hundredth part of the money which had been taken from them by usury.
He understands tam meath as signifying the same as ta m min eth, contracted into tam meeth, a preposition and demonstrative particle joined together, also a part FROM THE money. Neither the Syriac, Septuagint, nor Arabic acknowledges this hundredth part. Some think that the hundredth part is that which they obliged the poor debtors to pay each month, which would amount to what we would call twelve per cent.
interest for the money lent, or the debt contracted. See the introduction.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Restore, I pray you, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses , etc.] Which they had made over to them for corn they had had, or money they borrowed of them; it is entreated that an immediate restitution be made, and the rather, if what Aben Ezra observes is true, that this was the year of release, when debts were not to be exacted, but forgiven, ( Deuteronomy 15:1-3), also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them ; the hundredth part of the money might be what they took for usury, as the Romans did in later times, even so much a month; so that if the loan was one hundred pounds, a pound was given every month for it, and so one hundred and twelve pounds in the year; and the hundredth part of the corn, wine, and oil, might be the hundredth part of those fruits of the earth which the rulers demanded for their salary, (see Nehemiah 5:15).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-13 - Nehemiah knew that, if he built Jerusalem's walls ever so high, s thick, or so strong, the city could not be safe while there wer abuses. The right way to reform men's lives, is to convince their consciences. If you walk in the fear of God, you will not be eithe covetous of worldly gain, or cruel toward your brethren. Nothin exposes religion more to reproach, than the worldliness an hard-heartedness of the professors of it. Those that rigorously insis upon their right, with a very ill grace try to persuade others to giv up theirs. In reasoning with selfish people, it is good to contras their conduct with that of others who are liberal; but it is best to point to His example, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes becam poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich, 2Co 8:9. They di according to promise. Good promises are good things, but goo performances are better.
Original Hebrew
השׁיבו 7725 נא 4994 להם כהיום 3117 שׂדתיהם 7704 כרמיהם 3754 זיתיהם 2132 ובתיהם 1004 ומאת 3967 הכסף 3701 והדגן 1715 התירושׁ 8492 והיצהר 3323 אשׁר 834 אתם 859 נשׁים׃ 5383
